3 resources found

This paper details a study examining how different forestry practices, specifically partial cutting methods like group selection and irregular group shelterwood, impact the survival and growth of planted lodgepole pine and interior spruce seedlings. The research compared these outcomes to those in clearcut areas, with the overarching goal of identifying silvicultural systems that can maintain suitable habitat for northern caribou, which rely on terrestrial and arboreal lichens found in these forests. By analyzing seedling survival and growth over five years in relation to different harvesting techniques, the study aimed to determine if partial cutting could effectively regenerate desired tree species while minimizing negative effects on critical caribou forage. The findings provide insights into balancing timber harvesting with the ecological needs of threatened caribou populations in this region.

This paper investigates the differential ecological impacts of an extreme 2017 wildfire versus ongoing prescribed burns in Waterton Lakes National Park, AB. The core objective is to understand how reintroducing historical land-use processes, particularly through Traditional Ecological Knowledge, can enhance ecosystem resilience against modern stressors like climate change and invasive species. The study focuses on the Kenow wildfire's high-severity effects on a native-grass prairie compared to lower-severity prescribed burns, suggesting that while prescribed burning is beneficial, incorporating the full historical eco-cultural context, including the role of free-ranging bison and late-season Indigenous burning practices, is crucial for effective ecological restoration. The authors conclude that extreme disturbance is not necessarily catastrophic and that combining TEK with adaptive co-management can create landscapes more resilient to pervasive change.

This document investigates how partial harvesting strategies, designed to enhance mule deer habitat and allow timber extraction in British Columbia's dry Douglas-fir forests, impact complex interactions with natural disturbances like insect outbreaks and wildfires. The study, spanning 30 years, found that while short-term harvesting altered forest structure and reduced the immediate risk of crown fires and Douglas-fir beetle infestations, many of these structural and susceptibility changes reverted over the long term. The removal of harvesting residuals proved more significant in mitigating long-term disturbance risks, particularly for Douglas-fir beetles and intense surface fires, than the time elapsed since the treatment itself. The authors conclude that sustainable forest management integrating timber extraction and mule deer habitat conservation is achievable if partial harvesting occurs at intervals of 30 years or less and residuals are promptly cleared.